- OVERVIEW
- EXPERIENCE
- INSIGHTS
- NEWS & EVENTS
INDUSTRIES
PRACTICES
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Education
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Columbia Law School, J.D., 2001, James Kent Scholar, Young B. Smith Prize for Excellence in Torts
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Rice University, B.A., magna cum laude, 1998
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Admissions
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Illinois
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Missouri
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Texas
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Affiliations
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Missouri, Illinois and Texas Bars
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American Bar Association
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Women's Lawyers' Association, St. Louis
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Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis
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Representative Clients
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Bayer Crop Science LLP
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UniGroup Inc.
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Missouri State Employees' Retirement System
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Public School Retirement System of Missouri
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Recognitions
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Selected to National Law Journal's Legal list of Class Action / Mass Tort Litigation Trailblazers, 2023
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Named an Up & Coming attorney by Missouri Lawyers Weekly, 2016
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Included in "Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers" Rising Stars list, 2010-2011; 2013-2016 (by Thomson Reuters)
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Employment
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Thompson Coburn LLP Partner, 2010-Present; Associate, 2004
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Baker Botts LLP Associate, 2002
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U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit Law Clerk to Hon. Phyllis A. Kravitch
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Community
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United Way, Women's Leadership Initiative
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Sharon develops and executes highly effective MDL and class action defense strategies for major companies across a variety of sectors, including agriculture, transportation, telecommunications, and finance.
She represents publicly-held Fortune 500 corporations and privately-held businesses facing class action, multi-district litigation (MDLs), and other complex commercial litigation in state and federal courts across the country. Her MDL experience includes antitrust, sales and marketing practices, and product defect, in both regulated and non-regulated industries. She regularly achieves successful outcomes for her clients through class certification proceedings, the most critical juncture in any high-exposure class action. And, if and when successful resolution is not possible on the court papers or via a favorable settlement, she vigorously represents her clients at trial.
Sharon, who comes from a family of mathematicians, embraces the important intersection between high-stakes litigation and math. She plays a lead role in cases involving complex financial and other numerical data, and has significant experience analyzing exposure, deposing experts, and creating sophisticated damages models. Her leadership on data-intensive litigation, combined with high-level strategic thinking, paves the way for the successful resolution of numerous high-value cases for clients.
Drawing on her law school background in constitutional law and her work as a law clerk to the Hon. Phyllis A. Kravitch of the United States Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit, Sharon also provides focused advice to a variety of parties facing First Amendment questions, other constitutional issues and preempted claims.
Leadership of state and national class actions
Defended Fortune 100 telecommunications corporation in statewide municipal tax collection class action related to business license taxes.
Defended major transportation carrier in nationwide antitrust MDL consumer class action alleging price-fixing related to fuel surcharge.
Defended Fortune Global 100 company in shareholder class action challenging merger.
Defended transportation, agricultural, and automotive manufacturer in consumer fraud and product defect class actions, including MDLs.
Representation in the agricultural industry
Defended crop inputs manufacturer in nationwide antitrust MDL alleging group boycott of distribution channels.
Defended seed producer in produce defect cases, including putative nationwide class action.
Defended manufacturer of agricultural lubricants in sales practices MDL following changes in regulatory landscape.
Representation in the financial service industry
Defended Fortune 500 bank in nationwide class action alleging unauthorized charges and deceptive trade practices, including issues of arbitrability and class action waivers.
Prosecuted claims for breach of fiduciary duty and breach of contract on behalf of a public pension system against an international custodian bank, leading to a major victory.
Experienced litigator in contract law matters
Obtained summary judgment on behalf of a national transportation leader in federal contract litigation to defeat challenge to a crucial aspect of the company's core business model.
Defended major chemical corporation in breach of contract action regarding indemnification of environmental cleanup costs.
Defended major energy corporation in breach of contract dispute regarding invocation of material-adverse-event clause.
Prosecuted and obtained trial verdict in breach of contract action on behalf of a major public pension system against a beneficiary's depository bank.
Assisting clients outside of litigation
Helped a major radio provider respond to a state AG investigation into whether certain calls were protected First Amendment speech or in violation of state consumer protection laws.
Conducted internal investigations of major energy company in connection with public accusations that some energy companies were involved in manipulating energy markets.
Presented to Board of Directors of national transportation leader regarding major decision by regulatory agency affecting ratemaking process and antitrust counseling.
Defended major bank in state AG investigation into allegedly deceptive practices in connection with enrollment of consumers in ancillary services.
TCLEs
Thompson Coburn Publications
Class action defendants benefit from Spokeo’s ruling on standing
What’s next for class action defendants after Tyson Foods?
Blogs
Tyson Foods decision leaves questions, and opportunities, for class action defendants
Publications
"Class action defendants benefit from Spokeo's ruling on standing"
Thompson Coburn Publications May 2016
"What's next for class action defendants after Tyson Foods?"
SCOTUS Blog March 2016
"Commercial Litigation Q&A: Litigation Costs, E-Discovery, and Class Actions"
Missouri Lawyers Weekly's Corporate Counsel Desk Book November 2011
Presentations
"Mandatory Arbitration Clauses: How to Effectively Use Them In Your Business"
St. Louis Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) August 12, 2011